49ers draft Iowa QB C.J. Beathard: 'They won't regret it'

As C.J. Beathard makes the leap to the NFL, we take a look at his five best games as a Hawkeye.
Tyler Davis

One of C.J. Beathard's top strengths heading to the next level is his ability to process information and read defenses. He was chosen in the third round by the San Francisco 49ers on Friday night.(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports)

He joins a franchise that is building from the ground up and will be part of a shaky 49ers depth chart at QB that includes 2016 Chicago Bears backups Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley.

"We’re bringing him in here to develop him and give him a chance, but just like any other position, everyone competes," new 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Brian is our starting quarterback and, right now, Matt Barkley is our second. And I look at him to come in and be our third, with us only having three on the roster.

"He’s a leader. He’s tough. He processes very well. He's extremely accurate and he lives and dies football."

49ers general manager John Lynch traded picks with the Minnesota Vikings to move into the third round to nab Beathard.

"At the end of the day, we felt like it was worth it," Lynch told media, "to be able to go to bed knowing that we had a (quarterback) that we liked."

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard runs for a first down as Iowa StateÕs Mitchell Meyers defends Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 during the Cy-Hawk football game at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
Michael Zamora/The Register

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard looks down field for an open receiver during the Hawkeyes' game against Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016.
David Scrivner / Iowa City Press-Citizen

C.J. Beathard led Iowa to the Rose Bowl, but couldn't cap a magical 2015 season with a victory. "That was the one game we didn't show up for," he said glumly, of a 45-16 loss to Standford.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard throws during a March 30, 2016, open practice at the Iowa Football Performance Center. Beathard had offseason sports-hernia surgery but looked A-OK in his 40 minutes of media-exposed practice time.
David Scrivner, Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) huddles with his teammates during the third quarter in the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Michigan State Spartans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports

Iowa junior quarterback CJ Beathard stretches across the goal line to score a touchdown in the second quarter against Pitt on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

C.J. Beathard answers questions during a news conference at the L.A. Hotel Downtown on Sunday, Dec. 27. The Hawkeyes are preparing to play Stanford in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Jay Christensen/Special to the Register

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard jogs to practice at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 27. The Hawkeyes are in final preparation for their Jan. 1 matchup against Stanford in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Jay Christensen/Special to the Register

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) is protected by left guard Sean Welsh (79) and Cole Croston (64) against Illinois on Oct. 10. Iowa moved James Daniels to right tackle on an emergency basis that game when Ike Boettger got hurt.
Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

From left, Iowa's Boone Myers, Cole Croston, Jordan Walsh and C.J. Beathard head to the sidelines during Saturday's Big Ten championship game loss to Michigan State.
David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard looks for an open receiver during the Hawkeyes' Big Ten Championship game against Michigan State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
David Scrivner / Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) is congratulated by Iowa linebacker Eric Grimm (45) after throwing a long touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter against Michigan State during the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 5, 2015.
Mykal McEldowney/The Star

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) is flushed from the pocket and looks to the sideline against Michigan State during the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 5, 2015.
Mykal McEldowney/The Star

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard runs down field during the Hawkeyes' Big Ten Championship game against Michigan State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard gets a pat on the chest from head coach Kirk Ferentz after an interception during the Hawkeyes' Big Ten Championship game against Michigan State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Beathard was the sixth quarterback taken overall in the draft, a huge jump up the board compared with the pundits' prognostications. Beathard was expected to be a sixth or seventh round pick, according to NFL.com.

"He has the kind of size you want," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said during his network's broadcast. "He doesn't have the big arm. He can beat you rolling out, scrambling around, making some plays with his legs.

"When he was in that pro(-style) offense, he was a winning quarterback. I think he's a career backup. ... An insurance policy."

At some point Saturday, Beathard will likely see three former Hawkeye teammates selected. Cornerback Desmond King, defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson and tight end George Kittle are still waiting for their names to be called.

Eighteen cornerbacks were selected in the first three rounds, and none on them were the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award winner. King, a two-time all-American who returned to school for his senior season despite an eight-interception season as a junior, was projected to go as early as the second round.

The Hawkeyes' all-time leader in career starts (51) and No. 4 in interceptions (14) projects as either a cornerback or safety at the next level, with his excellent ball skills and sound tackling ability.

Johnson, a first-team all-Big Ten Conference performer last season, was expected to go in the third or fourth rounds.

Kittle should be one of the next tight ends selected. Six tight ends have been chosen, and Pro Football Focus and NFL Network's Mike Mayock have him as the No. 5 overall player at his position.

Saturday's fourth through seventh rounds begin at 11 a.m. CT, with five minutes allowed per pick in Rounds 4-6 and four minutes in Round 7.